Thorax 3 - Mediastinum Flashcards
What separates mediastinum into superior + inferior
T4/5 horizontal line
Mediastinum is divided into:
Superior mediastinum - superior thoracic aperture
Inferior Mediastinum - inferior thoracic aperture. It’s further divided into: anterior (sternum + pericardium), middle (pericadium + heart), posterior (pericardium + thoracic vertebrae)
Mediastinum contents (THOT GN)
Trachea Heart + pericardium Oesophagus Thoracic duct Great vessels Nerves
Where does apex of heart lie
5th IC space in MCL
Great Veins passage
Internal jugular veins (head) + subclavian veins (upper limbs) form brachiocephalic veins. R+L brachiocephalic veins = SVC w drains into RA
Superior mediastinum (anterior to posterior)
Thymus behind sternum Phrenic nerves Great veins Main lymphatic trunks Vagus nerve Great arteries Trachea + main bronchi Upper oesophagus
Superior mediastinum - Azygous vein
drains posterior chest wall, upper abdomen + posterior mediastinum
Arches over R lung root and drains into SVC
Accessory Hemiazygous veins on L cross thoracic vertebral bodies to join azygous vein on RHS
Superior mediastinum - Arteries (4)
Aorta: ascending, arch, descending
Common carotid
Coronary artery
pulmonary trunk
Superior mediastinum - common carotid
divides into external + internal carotids high in neck. Main arteries of head and neck
Superior mediastinum - coronary artery
L coronary artery arises from L aortic sinus
R coronary artery arises from R aortic sinus
Superior mediastinum - pulmonary trunk
divides into R + L pulonary arteries.
What connects pulmonary trunk to descending aorta
ligamentum arteriosum (remenant of ductus arteriosus as blood bypassed lungs in foetal life)
Vagus nerves
Lateral to common carotid.
L vagus passes anterior to aortic arch, crosses behind lung root and gives L recurrent laryngeal nerve w branches in oesophagus
R vagus lies on trachea, crosses posterior to lung root and = R recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Phrenic nerves are ___ of lung root
Vagus nerves are ____ of lung root
Phrenic = anterior Vagus = posterior
Middle Mediastinum contents
Pericardium
Heart
Great vessel origin
Nerves
Pericardium (superior and inferior parts)
Inferiorly, continuous and blends w diaphragmatic central tendon
Superiorly, continuous and blends with outer layer of great vessels in superior mediastinum
Pericardium has 2 layers
Fibrous - tough connective tissue outlines middle mediastinum boundaries. Blends w great vessels in superior mediastinum
Serous - has some fluid in it = movement of heart. Has parietal + visceral parts. Visceral adheres to heart and forms its outer covering. Parietal lines inner surfaces of fibrous pericardium
Parietal layer cont w visceral layer @2 reflections = oblique pericardial sinus posteriorly + transverse pericardial sinus
Pericardial attachments
base - central tendon of diaphragm
anteriorly attached to sternum by sternopericardial ligaments
innervation of fibrous pericardium
phrenic nerves
Pericardial sinus
Transverse + Oblique
Transverse pericardial sinus
separates arteries + veins.
posterior to aorta + pulmonary trunk
anterior to SVC + veins
Oblique pericardial sinus
formed by reflection onto pulmonary veins of heart